Pilgrims’ progress hampered by sudden rush at Vaishno Devi

Besides, nearly 25,000 pilgrims were stranded at Katra town and several thousands on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Nagrota.

Officials attributed this sudden rush to the continuous stretch of holidays, for about a week. Though about 30,000 pilgrims were reaching Katra town daily, only 18,000 to 20,000 pilgrims could have darshan at the shrine in a day, they added. The pilgrims have to wait for two to three days before they are allowed to proceed beyond Katra the base camp for pilgrimage to the holy shrine.